ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
PANTO SEASON 2024 :
OH YES , IT IS !
He ’ s behind you ! A visit to the pantomime is as synonymous with Christmas as decorating the tree or sharing a festive feast with your family and friends . Luckily for us , there is a show-stopping number of theatres throughout Kent that every year go all-out with their pantomime offering – your only dilemma is which one ( or two , maybe three ) you ’ ll choose to kick off your seasonal celebrations .
“ Oh no , it isn ’ t … Oh yes , it is !” is undoubtedly one of the most famous calls in the whole of theatreland and heralds the of one of the UK ’ s oldest theatrical traditions – the pantomime .
Although it first arrived on British stages in the 1600s , it was the Victorians who ramped up the fun and started to make panto into what we know and love today . In those days , it was an outlet for escapism ; somewhere that people could go to hear saucy jokes and watch risqué scenes without shame or embarrassment . It was safe and permitted , but – a lot like today – lingered right on the edge of decency , so it ’ s no surprise they loved it then as much as we all still love it now .
These days , there ’ s a much more family orientated feel to most pantos and the annual theatre trip has become something your kids will remember for years to come .
The first experience of theatre for so many little ones , pantomime is as immersive , funny and exciting as it gets – it ’ s something a lot of us have grown up with , and let ’ s face it , Christmas without a raucous singalong panto just isn ’ t Christmas at all .
A seasonal trip to the pantomime is as much something to look forward to as it is something to treasure for years to come ; it ’ s a magical experience that children won ’ t forget . Pantomime season 2024 is raring to go , so read ahead to discover which sparkly and delightfully silly shows Kent has for you this year – all you have to do is choose !
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